The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have found a couple of the tension rollers that were also needing freed up and oiled . Manually rotate it to see if it is loose. Tom

I'm still betting that its the mainspring... Take out your old spring barrel and send it to Wyatt Markus... You'll be glad you did.

Also make sure that your records and reproducer stylus are both clean and that the machine is well lubricated..

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

LtFrenchFries wrote: After some tinkering, now it won”t spin at all after I crank it.

So are you saying the motor now does not run at all, even with the belt disengaged?
If so then it is probably the main spring.
If it's just no longer making the mandrel spin with the belt engaged, then it's probably a problem with the belt, the belt tensioner or some other problem with the upper works already mentioned.

Whatever the problem is, just remember to never try and make adjustments to the lower motor or remove the mainspring unless you're sure the motor is fully unwound, having no stored energy in the mainspring.

Is the half nut on backwards? If its threads are jamming against the threads of the feed screw then it probably will not run right.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:Is the half nut on backwards? If its threads are jamming against the threads of the feed screw then it probably will not run right.

That would make the half nut slip, but it wouldn't bog things down.

When all else fails, it comes down to a weak spring. It happens...